Lantana plant named ‘LANZ0026’

ABSTRACT

A new  Lantana  plant named ‘LANZ0026’ having medium sized mature red flowers, excellent floriferousness, very low seed set, and uniform dense spreading habit with dark foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Lantana camara L.

Varietal denomination: ‘LANZ0026’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Lantana, botanically known as Lantana camara L., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘LANZ0026’.

‘LANZ0026’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘LANZ0026’ has medium sized red flowers, excellent flower production, moderate plant size and uniform dense mounded habit with dark green foliage.

‘LANZ0026’ originates from an open hybridization in an outdoor field in August 2015 in Gilroy, Calif., USA. The female parent was identified as ‘LANZ0013’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,373 having cherry-red flower color, and larger flower umbles than ‘LANZ0026’. The male parent is unknown.

The seed was sown in March 2016 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif. ‘LANZ0026’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in June 2016.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘LANZ0026’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in September 2016 in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in September 2016, in Gilroy, Calif., and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘LANZ0026’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘LANZ0026’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not yet been applied for. ‘LANZ0026’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘LANZ0026’ directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Lantana as a new and distinct variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘LANZ0026’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 a close view of an inflorescence, and in

FIG. 2 a whole flowering plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plant descriptions and measurements were taken in Gilroy, Calif. in October 2018. The plants were approximately 6 months old and were growing in 14″ pots out of doors.

The aforementioned photographs show those same plants as used for the description were taken in Gilroy, Calif. in September 2018 and show 6 month old plants from an outdoor trial.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘LANZ0026’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘BANT REDA09’ (U.S. Plant Pat. ‘LANZ0026’ No. 20,531) Flower color: Intense red Red Plant height: Larger; 47 cm Smaller; 23-26 cm Plant width: 81 cm 39-44 cm Umbel size: Smaller Larger

-   Plant:     -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Semi-woody, grown as an annual or             perennial; compact and dense mounding habit; very well             branched.         -   Plant height.—47 cm.         -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—48 cm.         -   Plant width.—81 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Opposite.         -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—Closest to RHS 137C.         -   Lower surface.—Closest to RHS 138A.         -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 139A.         -   Lower surface.—Closest to RHS 137B.         -   Length.—6.5-7.5 cm.         -   Width.—3.5-4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Base shape.—Rounded.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture, upper.—Hirsute.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Hirsute.         -   Pattern of veining.—Pinnate.         -   Petioles color.—RHS 139B & 139C.         -   Petioles length.—1.4-2.5 cm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—0.20 cm.         -   Texture (upper and lower surface).—Hirsute with some very             short glandular hairs. -   Stem:     -   -   Color of stem.—RHS 146C.         -   Length of stem.—35-40 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3-0.4 cm.         -   Length of internodes.—3.7-6.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Pilose, hirsute. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Umbel like, flattened semi-sphere the florets are             sessile on an ovate receptacle.         -   Blooming habit.—Flowers continuously from spring through             fall.         -   Number of open flowers per inflorescence.—About 36-38.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—About 250-325.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About 3 weeks             (depending on temperatures).         -   Fragrance.—Slightly spicy.         -   Umbel horizontal diameter.—3.9-4.2 cm.         -   Umbel vertical height.—2.2-2.5 cm.         -   Peduncle color.—RHS 146C.         -   Length of peduncle.—3.8-8.5 cm.         -   Peduncle diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Hirsute, glandular hairs. -   Flower:     -   -   Floret form.—Corolla salver-shaped to shallow cup-shaped,             with a relatively long tube at the base; each flower             subtended by a single bract.         -   Length of floret.—1.1 cm.         -   Width of floret.—0.9 cm.         -   Depth of floret.—1.8-2.0 cm.         -   Young floret, color upper surface.—RHS 17A in center,             overlain with RHS 46A on edge.         -   Young floret, color lower surface.—RHS 16B and RHS 46A.         -   Mature florets, color upper surface.—RHS 46A and RHS 46B.         -   Mature floret, color lower surface.—RHS 159A and RHS 185B             intermingled.         -   Apex shape.—Rounded.         -   Degree of lobation.—Moderate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillose.         -   Lower surface.—Papillose.         -   Tube, color outer surface.—Closest to RHS 159A and RHS 181B.         -   Tube, color inner surface.—Closest to RHS 173D.         -   Tube, length.—1.2-1.3 cm.         -   Tube, diameter (at opening).—0.15 cm.         -   Tube, texture outer surface.—Pubescent.         -   Inner surface.—Hirsute. -   Bud (just before opening):     -   -   Color.—RHS 46A.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm at the apex.         -   Shape.—Tubular with a flared apex. -   Bract:     -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 144A.         -   Length.—0.7-1.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.15-0.2 cm.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Hirsute.         -   Lower surface.—Hirsute. -   Calyx:     -   -   Number of sepals.—5, fused sepals forming a short tube             around the base of the floret.         -   Color of sepals.—RHS 145A.         -   Length of sepals.—0.2-0.3 cm.         -   Width of sepals.—0.1 cm.         -   Apex shape.—Obtuse.         -   Apex margins.—Entire.         -   Texture, outer surface.—Pubescent.         -   Inner surface.—Glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—         -   Pistil quantity.—One.         -   Length.—0.35 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 159D.         -   Style length.—0.2 cm.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 144B.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 144A.         -   Ovary length.—0.1 cm.         -   Ovary diameter.—0.05 cm.         -   Androecium.—         -   Stamen quantity.—4.         -   Color of filaments.—RHS 159D.         -   Length filaments.—0.05 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 164A.         -   Length of anthers.—0.1 cm.         -   Color of pollen.—RHS 10D.         -   Pollen amount.—Normal.         -   Fertility/seed set.—Very poor.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lantana plant named ‘LANZ0026’ substantially as illustrated and described herein. 